Welding furnace



Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

Pairs-NT HOLMES i3. enoNINGER, or Potier Borrar., lifnnnsfrrvanra.

WELDING FURNACE.

Application filed May 1, 1926. Serial No. 105,938.

My invention relates to the structure of furnaces for heating bent skelppreparatory to welding the skelp into pipe. Such structures include asubstantially horizontal hearth upon which the bent skelp rests and overwhich it is rolled as it is being heated to Welding temperature. Alongthe hearth extends a gutter, and into this gutter the heated length ofbent skelp is ultimately rolled, and from this gutter the heated lengthof bent skelp is ultimately pushed to enter the pass of the Weldingmachine. The gutter necessarily endures heavy Wear. Common practice isto form it as a groove in a block of solid refractory material and tomaintain it during operation partially filled with loose sand. Asoperation progresses the sand is dragged away, and at frequent intervalsoperation has to be arrested, While the supply of sand is replenished.The incidental loss in time and labor cost is appreciable.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a View in vertical and transversesection of an annealing furnace in Which my invention is embodied. Fig.II is a view in vertical and longitudinal section. The plane of sectionof Fig. I is indicated at I-I, Fig. II, and the plane of section of Fig.II is indicated at II-II, Fig. I. Fig. III being a fragmentary View inhorizontal section near the base of the structure, shows in plan thedriving mechanism of that feature in Which my invention centers. Fig. IVis a fragmentary vi-evv in vertical and transverse section, and shows inelevation a certain pawl and ratchet attachment to the drivingmechanism. Figs. III and IV are drawn to somewhat larger scale than theother figures. Fig. V is a fragmentary View, corresponding in the mainto Fig. II, and illustrating a certain modification in detail.

Referring, first, to Fig. I. the hearth of the heating furnace thereshown is indicated at l and in this hearth is formed the gutter Y away Imake compensation for Wear by the elevation of the body 3, and thisadjustment of the body 3 becomes possible Without intermission ofoperation. Thus I gain continuity of operation, which is an end of greatpractical value.

As best shown in Fig. II the body 3 of refractory material Willpractically be made up of a plurality of blocks suitably supported, asupon an underlying beam 4. Particular' means for effecting elevation-andthe showing here is exemplary, merelyare shown in Figs. I-IV. The beam lis carried upon vertically standing posts 5. These posts are providedwith teeth, and the teeth are engaged by cogs 6 borne upon shafts 7. Theshafts may be turned by suitable means, as by a hand crank 8, andretrograde turning may be prevented by the pawl and ratchet deviceparticularly shown in Fig. IV. An `attendant may from time to time turncrank arm 8 and raise block 3 and thus make compensation for Wear, andthis Without any interruption at all of the continuity of operation.

A plurality of posts 5 Will ordinarily be provided in any given furnace.In Fig. II two posts are shown, and the organization isy such that thesetwo posts are elevated in unison. In Fig. II, furthermore, the posts areshown to be bolted to beam 4. In Fig. V

the engagement of posts 5l With beam l is shown to he in the form of aball and socket joint. It Will be apparent that if engagement be in thisform the posts may be elevated each independently of the other, andaccord ingly the rate of elevation at one end may be greater than at theother, to adapt the device to conditions of unequal Wear. rlheparticular means shown in Figs. I-IV for elevating the posts isexemplary, merely, and, given the assembly of beam 4 With posts 5 (or5l) the engineer has the knowledge of the art available to him foreffecting elevation of the posts, either in unison or independently, asconditions of service may dictate.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a heating furnace including` a hearth With a guttered margin, theguttered margin being vertically adjustable With respect to theremainder of the hearth.

2. In a heating furnace a horizontally extending hearth, a body of solidrefractory material forming part of the hearth, such its upper surfaceforming part of the hearth, and means for adjusting said body ofrefractory material in its position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOLMES B. GRONINGER.

